Question : Criteria to Allot LPG Agencies

(a) the criteria fixed by the Government to allot LPG agencies, petrol pumps and CNG pumps in the country;
(b) whether any type of reservation/ quota has been fixed for SCs/STs/OBCs/ Ex-servicemen and defence personnel in the allotment of petrol pumps, gas agencies and CNG pumps and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether there is any restriction on increasing the number of LPG agencies/ petrol pumps and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken to increase the number of LPG agencies and petrol pumps in the country, State/UT-wise including Maharashtra and Rajasthan;
(d) whether the number of petrol pumps functioning in the rural areas is less as compared to the urban areas and if so, the details thereof along with any proposal to open new petrol pumps in proportion to population in the rural and urban areas of the country, State/UT-wise including Chhattisgarh;
(e) the number of cases for opening of petrol pumps taken for consideration, scrutinised and interviews held along with the number of draws carried out and allotment of petrol pumps made during the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise; and
(f) whether the Government had proposed a scheme to allot retail petrol pumps to the land owners and if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for not implementing the said scheme so far?

MINISTER OF PETROLEUM & NATURAL GAS (SHRI DHARMENDRA PRADHAN)
(a) & (b) Eligibility norms and reservation in allotment of LPG distributorship and retail outlets is at Annexure-I & II respectively.
Under the Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) Act, 2006, the Government has established PNGRB which is the statutory authority to grant authorization for the development of City Gas Distribution (CGD) network. Standalone CNG stations are set up by CGD companies which have their selection guidelines for setting up of CNG stations.
(c) to (e) Keeping in view the demand and consumption of motor fuels in the future, Retail Outlet network expansion including in the Rural/Urban/Tribal areas by Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) is a regular and ongoing exercise. Locations for setting up new Retail Outlets are identified by OMCs after carrying out required feasibility study by the field. The locations found feasible and economically viable are rostered in OMCs Marketing Plan for advertisement.
State/UT-wise details of number of locations advertised, commissioned and LOI issued as on 01.01.2018, are at Annexure-III.
Appointment of LPG distributorships is a continuous process and locations for setting up of LPG distributorships are identified based on sale potential that makes them commercially viable.
As on 01.01.2018, there are 19469 LPG distributors across the country. With a view to strengthen the LPG distribution infrastructure, Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) have recently advertised 6147 locations across the country, which are mostly in rural areas. The Government has also approved setting up of 115 Durgam Kshetriya Vitraks (DKVs) through different State Governments/Organisations, which are at various stages of commissioning.
(f) Under the current selection policy, land is an eligibility criteria and the candidates applying under any category has to offer suitable land in the application form.